France

Christie’s and Sotheby’s have both announced sales from collections of famous fashion designers to be held this year.

With Brussels’ major art and antiques fair BRAFA postponed from its usual January slot until June, a group of exhibitors have got together to present a foretaste of the type of pieces on offer later in the year at Brussels Expo in galleries around the city under the title Brussels Art Walk supported by BRAFA.

A striking and well-provenanced example of an African mask from the Fang peoples of Gabon is to appear at an auction in the south of France on March 26.

As part of its So Unique series of single-lot auctions, Millon will be selling this painting by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) in Paris.

Small bust in bronze and wax model were produced by the goldsmith to the emperor

ARP (Art Research Paris), a new auction house opening in the French capital on the Faubourg Saint Honoré, is holding an inaugural sale of over 200 lots of jewellery on February 10.

Artcurial will offer a painting by the French artist Jean Siméon Chardin (1699-1779), 'Le panier de fraises des bois' (The Basket of Wild Strawberries), at its auction of Old Master and 19th century paintings in Paris on March 23.

Auction totals for 2021 underline the strong recovery since the start of the pandemic

Two British sporting scenes by French artist Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) were among the best-sellers in auctions held within a day of each other on either side of the Atlantic.

A 17th century Old Master painting of the repentant St Peter by the Spanish artist Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652) was the highlight of a sale held by Gros & Delettrez (30% buyer’s premium) in Paris when it sold for €1.1m (£940,070).

Pair of bronzes of north African subjects are consigned by a branch of sculptor’s family.

Edouard Manet’s (1832-83) small-scale works have always enjoyed a keen following alongside his larger more finished paintings.

View of French resort comes from collection assembled over decades by a dealer and his wife.

An unpublished lacquer panel by Jean Dunand (1877-1942), the Art Deco artist/designer who was one of the masters of the medium, was one of the highlights in a 45-lot white-glove auction held by Ferri (28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) at Drouot in Paris.

New faces at Hindman, Sotheby's, Bonhams and Phillips.